CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers believes the carrot of a place in France’s squad for next year’s World Cup in Russia will drive on Moussa Dembele.

Having scored 32 goals last term, the striker cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines at the start of this season, with a hamstring injury restricting his game time.

But since coming off the bench to fire Celtic into the Betfred Cup Final with a double against Hibs last month, Dembele has been a regular starter.

Rodgers has eased the 21-year-old back into action gradually, but his performance before the international break – when he started and expertly finished a move in their 4-0 win over St Johnstone – showed he has recovered the ruthless streak that had a host of Europe’s big guns monitoring him before his injury struck.